Pliers or wrench with automatic adjusting and locking means



H. A. SHAW Aug. 14, 1951 PLIERS 0R WRENCH WITH AUTOMATIC 2,564,585

ADJUSTING AND LOCKING MEANS v Filed April 28, 1948 Ham/d Aff/wf 5mm www Pa'tented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLIERS R WRENCH WITH AUTOMATIC The invention relates to pliers and Wrenches of the type having an adjustable jaw with means for locking it. In tools of this character, so far as known, the use of both hands are necessary to adjust the jaws to the size of the pipe, nut or other object and to lock the two jaws in engagement with the object to be turned or manipulated.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a tool of the type indicated which may be operated by one hand and which, when the handle portions are grasped after the object is positioned between the jaws, will be entirely automatic in the operation of closing the jaws upon the object and then locking them.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of this character in which the movable jaw is pivoted and spring actuated to its open posion and is cam actuated to its closed positions on objects of diierent sizesV by a hand lever pivoted to a, oating or shiftable locking member in the handle portion of the tool, so that the locking action will be effective when the tool is applied to objects of various sizes.

' A further object is to provide a tool of this character in which the pivoted spring-opened movable jaw has a cam area and a locking area. adjacent thereto to be engaged by a coacting cam on the jaw actuating and locking lever.

With the above and other objects in View as will hereinafter appear, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as set forth in the following detailed description and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view, with one of the handle cover plates removed, of the present preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable jaw being shown in its open position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the movable jaw in one of its closed and locked positions.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of one edge of the tool.

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The improved tool comprises a handle I0, a iixed jaw II, a movable jaw I2 and an actuating member I 3 preferably in the form of a hand lever extending along the handle and movable toward and from the same so that both may be grasped by one hand. The coacting jaws may have work engaging faces as shown or of other shapes according to the intended use of the tool. The iixed jaw is preferably integral withone end of the 2 handle. 'I'he latter is hollow with a side or edge opening I4 and may be of any shape. The handle or body I0 may be cast in one piece or composed of two side plates I5 and I6 secured by bolts, rivets or similar fastenings I'I on opposite sides of a iiat body portion I8 which may have the jaw II integral with it as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The body portion or plate I8 is substantially U-shaped, one of its arms I9 extending from jaw II to the rear or cross portion 20 and its other arm 2| being shorter to provide the side opening I4. v

The movable jaw I2 is in the form of a lever fulcrumed between its ends on a bolt or the like 22 passing through it and the front portions of the handle plates or covers I5, I 6. A portion of the jaw lever is disposed between these plates which guide .the jaw in its pivotal movement. The movable jaw is preferably spring actuated to its open position. That may be accomplished in various ways but as shown recesses are formed in adjacent portions of the two jaws to receive portions of a Wire spring 23 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The spring 23 has a coil 24 surrounding the pivot 22 and two arms 25 and 26 extended from the coil. One arm 25 is hooked around the inner edge of the jaw lever I2 to urge the jaw to open position and the other arm 26 is bent around and anchored to one of the fastenings I'I. The longer front end of the jaw lever carries the working face of the jaw and its shorter rear end 2I is formed with a cam area 28 and an adjoining locking area 29. The cam edge 28 is slightly curved while the locking edge or area 29 is preferably straight for the purpose hereinafter stated.

The movable jaw actuator or hand lever I3 is mounted on a, floating or shiftable fulcrum. It is preferably a straight lever pivoted at 30 between its ends, its longer rear portion 3I forming a hand grip and its shorter front or outer end being shaped to provide a cam 32 which coacts with the areas 28 and 29 on the rear of the movable jaw. 'I'he rivet or other form of pivot 30 is carried by a locking member 33 positioned in the cavity or chamber of the hollow handle and mounted for both a tiltingor rocking movement and a sliding movement longitudinally of the handle between the long and short edge walls I9 and 2l of the hollow portion of the body. This tiltable and shiftable member 33 is preferably in the form of a at metal plate of substantially L-shape and has a thickness which will iill the space between the plates or sides I5 and I6 of the handle. Its short arm 34 is reducedin thickness and projects later` v to part I9 of the handle.

the locking member 33 is to permit the engagement and disengagement of coacting locking elements on the member and handle at different.v

points longitudinally of the handle according to the size of the object between the jaws and the relative positions of these parts. Theseelements are preferably one or more V-shapedteeth 3B` formed on the outer or side edge of the arm 35 adjacent to its rear and one or more similar teeth 3l formed on the inner edge of the confronting wall I9. Preferably oneor` more of theteeth-,fi are provided tovengage any of a long row of the teeth 31, as will be seen on reference to Figs. 1 and 2. The edge of 35 carrying the tooth or teeth 36 has a curvedportion 38 which rocks or rolls on I9.

The shiftable locking member 33 is urgedin a forward orl outer direction by suitable spring means preferably a coil spring 39 having one end'hooked in an eyeor' opening 40 in member 33 and its other., endgsirnilarly-l attached at lll` This spring Will, therefore, urge thev parts totheir normal positions shown in Fig. 1, that is, the spring will notonly rock the member 33V on its curved edge 38 to disengage teeth 36,from teeth 31 butl will shift said lmember and hence fulcrum 30 iny a forward direction to pull the cam end 32. of the hand lever up the curved or cam. edge 28'of the movable jaw, thus. moving the hand grip end 3l away from the handle; The spring 23, which is of greater strength than'spring. 39, will also tend toV throw. the hand leverV to its open position. When the partsv I0, I3 are grasped in one hand to move 3.I.towardthe handle, cam 32 will move along 28. to .close the-jaws on the work or object. between them. When that isY accomplished furtherI movement ofy 3I toward the handle will cause: the fulcrum carrying and locking memberr to shift automatically. rearwardly in the handle and also rock or tilt at the point of contact of the coacting surfaces. 38 I9,

so thatY when cam32 rides onto the flat locking edge 29 of the movable jaw the tooth or teeth 36 will engage teeth 31 to-loclr the jaws upon the object between them, as will loe.V seen on reference to Fig. 2. When the parts are so disposed one edge 43 ofthe member. will thrust against. the inner edgev or wall of 2I. Thesev teeth are preferably soconstructed as to move. the member slightly forward asrtheteeth are engaged, the objectfbeing toY exertforceagainst.

the movable jawof thepliers or wrench.. As shown in Figs.V 1 and2, both faces of the teeth 36 and 3l are inclined in a forward direction to causeV the member 33gto be shiftedfor cammed inv a forward direction when the, teeth engage each other. This action takes place before. the: hand lever is `up against the handle and hence vwhen that lever is completely closed itv isY effectivelyy lockedA in position. To release vthe parts a nger is pressed against', the forward end ofthe hand I lever adjacent to its. cam 32. When that is. done the parts spring to the open position shownV in Fig.. 1.. The inner edge of the4 hand Vgrip 3l of the lever may be formed with a curved portion 42 which strikes the handle and limits the inward movement of the lever.

From the foregoing it is believed that the operation and advantages of the invention will be apparent. It is to be noted that the tool may have its jaws adjusted to and locked on objects of various sizes by simply placing the jaws upon the object and-,tightening the gripzonfthe .handle and lever,v` theoperations being entirely automatic.

It is to be understood that while the present preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed', numerous changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

' What is claimed is:

1. A- tool ofA thelcharacter described comprising a handle, a fixed jaw at one end of said handle, a coacting movable jaw pivoted to said handle and having a cam area andan adjacent locking area, spring meansv for actuating said movable jaw to an open position, a-hand-'leverextending along said handlel and havingY at one end avcam to coact with said-areas ofthe movable jaw, a tiltable locking member shiftable length- Y wise of `said handle and to which'saidwhand ,lever is fulcrurned betweenv the ends of the latter, spring-means for urging said memberforwardly on said handle to maintain the camend of said hand lever in contact withsaid areas on the movable jaw, and interengaging locking elements in the open side ofsaid handle and'jhaving a cam area and a 'lockingarea atiltable locking member in said hollow handle and shiftable forwardly and rearwardly therein,y said member having a laterally projecting portion extending through the open side of said handle, a. hand leverY extending alongv theV openV side of said handle and fulcrumedjbetweenits ends to said extended'portion of said member, said'hand lever having a cam on` its front end to coact with said areas of 'the movable, jaw,v springv means for urging said locking' member forwardly inlr the handleV and interengaginglocking elements on therear partof saidlocl'ringY member andthe confronting interior wall ofthe handle.

3. In a deviceof the character.- set forth, a relatively at and elongated body having a xed jaw at its front end, and a hollow portion in rear of said jaw and opening. through one edge of saidbody, a movable jawlever fulcrumed between its ends in saidbody andhaving at its front a jaw to coact with said'Xed jaw, an elongatedv locking plater insaid hollow portion ofthe body and arrangedjfor longitudinal sliding and rocking movements between confronting interior walls of said .hollow,portion, said plate having at. its yfront end a laterally projecting arm extending Y l to engage the rear edgek ofsaid vmovablejaw lever to'vactuate theV same, andinterengaging locking elements on the rear 'part' of saidplate and'thef confrontinginterior wall oflsaid hollow portion ofv the-body. 4. The .structurefof' claim 3 together with spring means for normally urging said locking plate and said hand lever in a forward direction and holding said locking elements disengaged.

5. The structure of claim 4 together with spring means for actuating said movable jaw to open position, said last mentioned spring means beingy of greater strength than said first mentioned spring means.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which said interengaging locking elements comprises at least one tooth on an edge of said locking plate and a longitudinal series of coacting teeth on said confronting interior wall.

7. In an automatic locking means for a wrench or similar tool in which a pair of work-engaging J'aws are rst closed upon an object and then locked in such closed position when a pair of handle members are grasped in one hand; a handle having a xed jaw at one end a hollow portion in rear of said i'ixed jaw, a movable jaw lever fulcrumed between its ends to said handle and having at its front a movable jaw to coact `with said fixed jaw, a locking member in said hollow handle and carrying a fulcrum disposed at one side of said handle, said member being mounted for both longitudinal sliding and tilting movements, a hand lever extending along said handle and pivotally mounted between its ends on said fulcrum, the front end of said hand lever having a cam to engage the rear of said movable jaw lever to actuate the same, spring means for urging said member and hand lever in a forward direction, and coactng interengaging locking elements on said member and said handle.

8. In an automatic locking means for a tool having opposed work gripping jaws, the combination of an elongated hollow body having opposed long and short edge walls between opposed side walls, a row of locking teeth on the inner side of said long wall adjacent one end of the latter and arranged opposite said short wall, a xed jaw projecting from the opposite end of said long wall, a coacting movable jaw pivoted in said hollow body in opposed relation to said xed jaw and having an edge spaced from an end of said short wall, a locking plate in said hollow body between its side walls and mounted for sliding and rocking movement between the inner sides of said long and short edge walls, said plate having at one end a tooth to coact with said locking teeth and at its other end an angularly extending arm projecting out of said body between said edge of the movable jaw and said short wall, a jawactuating lever pivoted between its ends to said arm and having a handle portion at one end to extend along said body and a cam portion at its other end to coact with said edge of the movable jaw and enter said hollow body, and spring means for urging said locking plate in the direction of said jaws to hold said cam portion engaged with said edge of the movable jaw.

HAROLD ARTHUR SHAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 588,365 Stocker Aug. 17, 1897 772,751 Sorensen Oct. 18, 1904 1,353,847 Parker s Sept. 28, 1920 1,445,280 Jordan 1 Feb. 13, 1923 1,483,497 Whitfield Feb. 12, 1924 2,280,005 Petersen Apr. 14, 1942 2,420,020 Snell May 6, 1947 2,461,272 Hanson Feb. 8, 1949 2,482,193 Malmquist Sept. 20, 1949 

